Corokia x cheesemanii Korokio / Wire Netting Bush is one of New Zealand's most versatile, tough, and garden-worthy native shrubs, and a plant that earns its place in landscapes from the windswept coast to the urban garden. A natural hybrid between Corokia buddleioides and Corokia cotoneaster, this slender, erect, multi-branched shrub features dense, interlacing branches that make it an excellent choice for screening and hedging. In spring, Korokio becomes smothered in bright, canary-yellow star-shaped flowers, creating a beautiful and eye-catching seasonal display. Following the flowers, it produces red, orange, or yellow berries in autumn, which are eagerly enjoyed by native birds.
Picture of 1L pot
Corokia cheesemani
Botanical Name Corokia x cheesemanii Māori Name Korokio Common Name Wire Netting Bush Family Argophyllaceae Type Evergreen shrub Origin Natural New Zealand hybrid — C. buddleioides x C. cotoneaster Mature Height Up to 3 m if left untrimmed; easily maintained between 75 cm and 2 m Mature Spread Approximately 1 m Sun Requirements Full sun to partial shade Soil Adapts well to most soil types; prefers well-drained conditions Flowering Spring — bright canary-yellow star-shaped flowers Fruiting Autumn — red, orange, or yellow berries; attracts native birds Wind Tolerance Excellent — handles strong winds and coastal exposure Frost Tolerance Hardy to frost Drought Tolerance Good once established Waterlogging Avoid sites that are boggy in winter Growth Rate Moderate Maintenance Very low — responds well to trimming Conservation Status Not Threatened Planting Tips: For hedging, plant approximately 50–70 cm apart to achieve a dense, continuous screen. For use as a background or specimen shrub, allow about 1–1.5 m of space for adequate growth and air circulation. Plant in full sun to partial shade in well-drained soil. Water regularly through the first summer to establish, then reduce as the plant becomes drought tolerant. Mulch around the base to retain soil moisture.
Ideal Uses: Hedging and screening, coastal shelter planting, wildlife and bird-friendly gardens, mixed native plantings, and formal or informal garden borders. Its dense, interlacing branch structure makes it particularly effective as a security hedge or stock-proof barrier when planted in a double row.
Ongoing Care: Easily trimmed to any desired height — best clipped after flowering to retain the following season's berry display. Responds well to being trimmed and can be planted out to create hedging of varying heights. Very little additional care is required once established — this is genuinely one of NZ's most low-maintenance native shrubs.
